Kings’ Drew Doughty could be an Olympic candidate
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The Olympics will begin a year from today in Vancouver, and the toughest job between now and then surely belongs to Steve Yzerman, the former Red Wings standout who is the executive director of Canada’s men’s hockey team.
Every Canadian has an opinion on the makeup of the team and high expectations for a better showing than Team Canada’s quarterfinal loss to Russia at Turin. Every Canadian seems to want to be in Vancouver to watch the team, too. John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Games organizing committee (VANOC) said last week that as soon as tickets went on sale, orders poured in for Canada’s favorite sport.
‘We had 144,000 orders for gold medal hockey. That tells you how important that game is to Canadians,’ he said. ‘They’re already assuming we’re going to be in it.’
The assignment to get them there has been given to Yzerman, who is being assisted by Detroit General Manager Ken Holland and Edmonton’s president of hockey operations, Kevin Lowe. Yzerman has a wealth of players to choose from -- which is why it was mildly
but happily surprising to hear him mention Kings rookie defenseman Drew Doughty as a potential Olympian today during a conference call with reporters.
Asked whether he would consider players 20 years old or younger, Yzerman said he wouldn’t rule it out and that he was hesitant to specify names -- but then he specified one.
‘Just one name ... Drew Doughty is a tremendous player out in Los Angeles,’ he said. ‘A lot can happen down the stretch here and a lot can happen next season. I think some of these kids, just because there’s so much depth in front of them, they’re going to have to be pretty exceptional just to be on the Olympic team. There’s a chance....
‘In all likelihood there probably won’t be a teenager on it, but if a young kid merits a spot on the team, he’s going to be there.’
Yzerman said Canada would wait to name its coaching staff until after the Stanley Cup finals and would hold an orientation camp for players in mid-August. But he and his management staff have put together a watch list of players they’re keeping an eye on this season -- and Doughty apparently is among them. That’s a compliment to Doughty and to Yzerman for doing his homework and not ignoring West Coast teams.
Yzerman also said he’s in favor of NHL players participating in the Olympics beyond 2010. The current collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the players union covers these Games but not the subsequent Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and that could be a point of contention.
The union has said it would like to see continued participation by NHL players -- and the International Ice Hockey Federation loves the greater attention that NHL players attract -- but owners could be reluctant to see the league take a long hiatus and risk losing players to injuries or jet lag caused by the long trip to Russia.
‘This is my own personal opinion, but I think it’s great for the game. On a worldwide stage it is the biggest event for hockey and the biggest event for us to showcase our players,’ Yzerman said. ‘So, to me, I think it’s important that we remain in it and all the attention that it gets. And players want to play in it. I think we should do everything we can to try and stay involved.
‘I understand the issues with it being in midseason and maybe it’s not the best thing for the NHL as far as when it’s televised ... but I think it’s nothing but a benefit and a positive regardless of which team wins, so I would support continuing our participation.’
Brian Burke, general manager of Team USA, will be doing a conference call this afternoon, so check back for his comments. He’s never at a loss for words....
-- Helene Elliott
Photo (left): Drew Doughty. Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images
Photo (inset): Steve Yzerman. Credit: Getty Images / NHLI